A Denver 911 dispatcher involved in the handling of a call made in the early stages of a November incident that ended in a woman’s slaying has resigned.

The dispatcher’s last shift was Dec. 26, according to a resignation letter obtained by The Denver Post through an open-records request. Authorities have not identified the employee, whose name has been redacted from the short resignation letter.

The move means the dispatcher, who had been on paid leave, avoided any potential discipline that might have spawned from a nearly 6½-hour delay between the first 911 call reporting a violent domestic dispute and the discovery of Loretta Barela’s body in her home on South Carlan Court.

Denver Police Chief Robert White ordered his department’s internal-affairs bureau to investigate the delay — including the original call, how dispatchers prioritized it, how much information they gave officers and what the officers did — but the department has refused to comment on the probe, citing concern for the pending criminal case against Perea.

A neighbor who lives across the street called 911 at about 2 a.m. after Barela, 44, pounded on her door seeking help. The woman said she then watched as a man dragged Barela into her home, hitting her. When she had not seen police within 40 minutes, the neighbor said, she called 911 again. Officers arrived at about 3:10 a.m. by her estimate and circled the home with a flashlight, trying to look inside.

At 8:16 a.m, Perea called 911 to say his wife was “cold and her jaw was stiff,” according to police.

The dispatcher was placed on paid leave while Denver 911 began its own investigation of the handling of the call. The dispatcher’s role, however, is unclear — the resignation letter offers no details about duties. Daelene Mix, a spokewoman for Manager of Safety Alex Martinez, would not release the dispatcher’s name out of concern for “safety purposes.”

“The experience and time I have spent at Denver 911 is invaluable and has helped me to grow and expand my knowledge base and skill set; however I feel that it is time for me to pursue other goals and ambitions that are of interest to me,” the letter says.

The two unidentified police officers who responded to the earlier call remain on patrol, spokeswoman Raquel Lopez said Thursday.

Barela’s daughter, Marie Cruz, said her family remains troubled by unanswered questions about the delay.

“We’re still looking for answers,” she said Thursday. “It’s very frustrating.”

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